Heatwave kills 15 in Japan

World / 29 July 2014, 5:14pm

Pedestrians use umbrellas as they walk through Tokyo. The city's temperature climbed to nearly 35 degrees Celsius as the mercury rose across Japan. Picture: Yoshikazu Tsuno

Tokyo - Sweltering summer heat in Japan has left at least 15 people dead over the past week, while more than 8 000 others were rushed to hospital with heatstroke symptoms, official figures showed on Tuesday.

At least six people died on Saturday alone, when the state weather agency warned temperatures had topped 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), with dripping humidity in certain parts of the country.

Nearly 8 600 people were taken to the emergency room for heat-related symptoms in the week through Sunday, more than double the previous week, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

The elderly were particularly vulnerable to the rising temperatures, with nearly half of those taken to hospital aged 65 or older, the agency data showed.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that the mercury was expected to top 35 degrees Celsius again on Tuesday.

Last year, Japan experienced its hottest summer on record, with the mercury hitting a record 41 degrees C (105.8 Fahrenheit) in some parts of the country.

Tens of thousands were taken to hospital suffering from heat-related symptoms.